Miami Dolphins make Bobby McCain NFL’s highest-paid nickel back

Bobby McCain has hit it big, cashing in before his contract season. (Andres Leiva/The Post)

Bobby McCain has a 4-year deal worth $27 million, including $13 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid nickel back in the NFL, according to a source.

McCain was often Miami’s best cornerback in 2017, outperforming teammates Cordrea Tankersley, Xavien Howard and released Byron Maxwell. McCain was so good the team will even consider giving him some outside repetitions this season.

McCain is only 5-11, 192 pounds, but coaches cite his diligence on and off the field. McCain is also one of the most fiery Dolphins, both during games and practices.

“I need him outside and I’m going to need him inside,” Dolphins defensive backs coach Tony Oden said. “If he’s in the game, it’s going to happen. If we don’t practice that, I can’t expect him to compete and excel at an elite level if we haven’t practiced it.”

Miami coach Adam Gase has been a fan of McCain since his arrival. Gase has pushed back on any criticism of McCain citing him as a player who always does things right.

“The spot that he plays, there’s so much nickel personnel that’s being played that he probably played 600-plus snaps last year,” Gase said. “That’s just the way the game is. If he had to play outside, then slot inside and do things like that, it’s a lot of plays.”

McCain was a fifth-round draft choice from Memphis in 2015. McCain has 3 career interceptions, 17 passes defended and has played 16 games in each of his three NFL seasons.

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About the Authors

Jason Lieser has covered sports in Chicago, New Orleans and now South Florida

Joe Schad is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post who covers the Miami Dolphins. He previous covered sports for ESPN, the Orlando Sentinel and Newsday.

After 19 years as a sports writer, copy editor and assistant sports editor at The Miami Herald, Hal Habib joined The Palm Beach Post's sports department in 1998. Areas of coverage range from the Olympics, Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl to local sports.